Hisar, May 17
The increasingly belligerent khap panchayats are likely to become a major political issue in Haryana in the coming months. Should that happen, Haryana’s political scene could change drastically.

Despite being in existence for centuries, the khaps have so far been infamous for raking up lethal controversies, mainly over intra-gotra marriages. Their patently illegal activities made headlines nationwide, but these never became a major political issue or force that had the potential to polarise the Jat community politically. This is no longer the case.

Emboldened by the deliberate reluctance of political parties to curb their activities while in power, the self-styled khap leaders are now making a determined attempt to force politicians to take a pro or anti-khap stance. Such a polarisation can upset political equations in Haryana, leading to a dangerous situation where the khaps could transform themselves from a social nuisance in to a political force with no political agenda or accountability.

Till about a decade ago, the khaps enjoyed limited support in their own backyards and there was no single issue on which they could muster statewide support. The increasing number of intra-gotra marriages over the past few years have handed them an issue to depend upon to muster statewide support in the Jat community.

The so-called controversial marriages have been propelled by such factors as a dangerously skewed sex ratio and greater openness among rural youth, thanks to the media explosion and opportunities for interaction offered by educational institutions.

The parents in the 40 plus age group now see the possibility of such a controversy knocking at their own doors. In panic they have begun to lend support to the demand for a ban on intra-gotra marriages.

It is in this background that the khaps are seeking a major political role which will make their leaders politically powerful and eventually kingmakers in a few years down the line.

The INLD, which has the advantage of being out of power, has been quick to assess the political gains it stands to make by supporting the khaps.

The Congress, which has been caught on the back foot, is also handicapped by the fetters of government. It can neither openly support nor furiously oppose the khaps. Despite the right noises it is making now, it is unlikely that the Congress government will go all out against the khaps anytime soon.

The demand for a ban on intra-gotra marriages now enjoys widespread support not only in the Deswali belt where the khaps are influential, but also in other parts of the state where khaps have no existence at all. No party will be able to ignore this issue at the time of the next Assembly poll. And that is when the khaps hope they will matter.

Sonepat, May 17
A new ray of hope has come in the life of more than 1300 children of brick-kiln workers as the district administration had opened “Bhattha Pathshalas” at 57 kilns in different development blocks of the district.

There are 312 students in 15 pathshalas in Kharkhoda block, 297 students in 12 pathshalas in Sonepat, 277 in 11 pathshalas in Gannaur, 219 in nine pathshalas in Gohana, 129 in six pathshalas in Murlana, 64 in three pathshalas in Kathura and 38 in one pathshala in Rai block.

According to Deputy Commissioner Ajit Joshi, the idea was to protect children from getting engaged in child labour and to provide the education facility at their doorstep at the kiln. In many cases, these pathshalas would help the children maintain continuity of their studies after returning to their villages and hometowns, he added.

On an experiment basis such pathshalas were a success in Jhajjar district during his stint as ADC there, which encouraged hi8m to replicate the experiment in Sonepat district also.

Usha Devi, teaching at Neelam Bhatta Company, Baiyanpur village said: “Initially, the parents were reluctant in sparing their minors from domestic work but gradually they relented with the number of students in my pathshala going up to 22.” Similar views were expressed by Nirmal of Government High School, Baiyanpur, who is the monitoring official of the pathshala.

A Number of kiln workers, including women, had all praise for the district administration and said they would try to enrol their children in schools after returning to their villages.

Panipat, May 17
With the commissioning of much delayed Dadri-Panipat gas pipeline by the month-end, the IOC is all set to convert feedstock of its Panipat refinery from fossil fuel to natural gas soon.

It was in 2007 that the IOC was permitted by the union government to construct a 132-km natural gas pipeline from Dadri to Panipat with an estimated cost of Rs 350 crore. It was the first gas pipeline by the IOC, which was to be commissioned by early 2009. However, the project got delayed as it got caught in red tapsim. The pipeline was to pass through Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Though the 50-km stretch that was to pass through Haryana was completed quite early, but the project ran into trouble when it entered Uttar Pradesh, sources in the IOC said.

The 30-inch diameter pipeline would initially be operating with a capacity of 1.5-2 million metric standard cubic metres per day (MSCMD). This is likely to go up to 10 MSCMD, when the pipeline would start operating to its full capacity, which is expected by the month of October this year.

The sources said initially, the pipeline would be carrying LNG, which would be provided by GAIL. Later, natural gas from D6 block in Krishna Godavari basin operated by Reliance Industries would be made available for this pipeline.

The IOC has already signed a gas transportation agreement with GAIL and is in the process of signing a gas sale and purchase agreement with RIL.

Kaithal, May 17
Meetings of the district grievances committee have become mere rituals where public grievances are seldom redressed to the satisfaction of complainants. This was the general perception of complainants coming to one such meeting held recently. The old practice of referring complaints for inquiry or re-inquiry was repeated this time too.

During the meeting, which was presided over by Transport and Tourism Minister Om Parkash Jain, as many as 12 complaints were taken up. About 70 officers of various departments were present. Most of the complaints were of individual nature and the aggrieved persons wanted appropriate relief and action against erring or negligent officials of various departments.

Jaswant Singh, a local resident, highlighted loopholes in the functioning of Social Welfare Department’s “kanyadan scheme”. He pointed that he applied for financial assistance for the marriage of his daughters on June 7, 2009. The marriages were solemnised on June 14, but he is yet to receive any financial aid from the department despite his best efforts. The minister directed deputy commissioner Amneet P Kumar to take action against erring officials. The minister also offered cash from his discretionary funds.

The matter of running of meat shops in various residential areas was also highlighted. A Nanak Puri resident raised this issue, but executive officer of municipal council told that this shop had already been closed keeping in view public sentiments.

INLD MLA from Kalayat pointed out that bus service in his area was very poor. The minister directed the GM Haryana Roadways to introduce more buses on the route. He also raised the issue of scarcity of canal and drinking water in the area. Some complainants found support from Majra who insisted that the aggrieved persons should be provided prompt relief.

Some irregularities in the distribution of items by ration depot holders under public distribution scheme (PDS) were also raised by some villagers. Mohinder Singh and Balbir Singh of Sheomajra village complained about irregularities by depot holders. The minister directed officials of the department concerned to make surprise visit to depots and ensure that essential items being distributed were made available to beneficiaries.

Satbir, a resident of Geong village, pointed out that he was charged Rs 120 for an x-ray in civil hospital against the specified charges of Rs 60. He said he was manhandled by hospital staff when he raised objection. The minister directed CMO to hold an inquiry and act against the guilty.

Ram Pati, wife of Miyan Singh, complained that some miscreants attacked her residence and later the accused pressurised her for a compromise. The minister directed officials concerned to make an inquiry. The minister directed SSP to hold an inquiry on a complaint made by Fateh Singh, son of Sukhia.

Deputy commissioner Amneet P. Kumar, SSP Sandeep Khirwar, ADC BB kaushik, SE UHBVN SK Bansal, SDM Hawa Sigh, CTM Ram Kumar Beniwal and heads of various other departments were present at the meeting.

Chandigarh, May 17
The state government will launch an innovative scheme "Reproductive health management to optimise fertility".

It aims at making the livestock of the state infertility-free so that milk production can be increased.

According to a spokesman of the Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department, multipurpose animal camps would be organised to achieve the objective of infertility-free livestock in the state. The department plans to organise 1,000 camps during the current financial year to be manned by about 300 teams. Each team would consist of at least two veterinary surgeons assisted by paramedical staff. Each team would organise about 30 to 40 camps in its jurisdiction. Each Saturday would be fixed as the camp day.

Among the services to be provided at the camps will be general health examination and treatment, induction and synchronisation of oestrus through different hormonal protocols followed by fixed time insemination (by clock) making oestrus detection un-necessary, supply of area-specific mineral mixture to farmers, training and guidance by experts, micronutrient management and awareness and control of parasitic diseases based on diagnostic and epidemiological studies.

About 100 animals will be treated at each camp in addition to the delivery of services and follow-up medication at the doorstep of the farmers.

The camps will also be used to hold calf rallies, to take samples for testing against important diseases and conduct kisan sangoshtis to give necessary advice, information, solve problems at the spot and to get feedback from animal owners for future planning. In addition to holding special camps, doorstep services, particularly to the SC families, would be provided. Proper record of each animal will be kept in "Animal Health Cards" for future planning.

The department will spend Rs 25 crore on the scheme under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna during this year. Out of this Rs 15 crore will be spent on providing minerals and feed supplements, Rs 3 crore on hormones for reproductive healthcare and Rs 7 crore on deworming and general healthcare.

Panipat, May 17
The ambitious project conceived by the State Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Farming to set up 25 high-tech commercial dairies in the district is progressing at a snail's pace as only seven high-tech dairies could be opened even two years after the project was introduced.

The project had been planned as the region was a goldmine of farm livestock resources with a large number of dairy entrepreneurs in rural areas. The country is already ranked number one in the world with annual milk production of over 98 million tonnes.

It was thought that dairy farming had a vast potential for generating income for rural folks through self-employment. The department was of the view that the state's proximity with the national capital could help dairy farmers reap rich profits by upgrading the existing infrastructure.

By setting up the high-tech dairies the department had aimed at scientifically managing clean milk production and creating a data bank of quality germplasm and more employment. It was mooted that high-tech dairies would have a minimum of 20 or more milch cattle, to be financed by commercial banks. The loan was to be repaid in seven years in 78 monthly instalments with a moratorium period of six months.

The department was to assist the dairy farmers by providing free training, sponsoring of loan applications to banks, contributing 50 per cent share of the cost of insurance of dairy animals, besides giving a subsidy of 15 per cent. The department had also made arrangements for veterinary services at the doorstep of farmers and marketing of milk.

However, due to the reluctance on the part of commercial banks in providing loans and a shortfall in budget for subsidy, only seven dairies could be set up in the district in two years. According to sources, commercial banks had been asking the loan applicants to mortgage at least 4 acres of land to get a loan of Rs 11 lakh to open a high-tech dairy.

Besides, the state government had failed to provide the 15 per cent subsidy to some of the dairy farmers who had opted to set up these dairies, which discouraged others to set up similar units. Besides, dairy farmers had been a little hesitant to make huge investments in such units fearing that it might not work for them, sources said.

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Farming maintained that the project was doing well and the department was doing its bit in helping new entrepreneurs set up high-tech dairy farms by providing all logistic support.

Chandigarh, May 17
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has urged the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices to fix Rs 1,275 per quintal as the minimum support price of wheat while framing the price policy for Rabi 2010-11 crops to be marketed during 2011-12.

The state government has sent the recommendations to this effect to the commission for formulating the price policy for Rabi 2010-11 season to be marketed during 2011-12.

The state government has also recommended Rs 975 per quintal as the minimum support price of barley, Rs 2,850 per quintal of gram and Rs 2,450 of rabi oilseeds (rapeseed or mustard).

The state government has been continuously pressing the Centre to enhance the minimum support price to uplift the economic status of the farmers by giving them remunerative prices of their produce.

The recommendations made by the state government are based on the cost of cultivation which has been calculated on the basis of the variable and fixed costs of cultivation.

The variable costs included human and machine labour, seeds, fertiliser, irrigation, pesticide, insecticide and weedicide.

Similarly, the calculation of fixed costs comprised rent of land owned, rent paid for leased land, land taxes and cesses, depreciation on implements and farm building and some miscellaneous items. All this information related to these items was based on the data for 2009-10.

As per the calculations of both fixed and variable costs, the cost of cultivation of wheat will increase by 0.6 per cent in the next rabi season as compared to the cost of cultivation in 2009-10.

The main reason for this increase will be increased rate of wages of human labour, diesel and weedicide rate. Similarly, the cost of cultivation of rabi oilseeds would increase by 0.3 per cent in the next rabi season as compared to the cost of cultivation in 2009-10.

Sirsa, May 17
As the battle lines have been drawn for the municipal elections in the state, 179 candidates are battling out for 31 wards of the Sirsa Municipal Council for the May 20 polls.

Among other municipal bodies of the district, 52 candidates are contesting from 13 wards of Kalanwali, 65 for 17 wards of Ellenabad, and 59 candidates are in the fray for 15 wards of Rania. All these three towns have municipal committees.

In Fatehabad, 98 candidates are fighting it out from 21 wards of the Fatehabad Municipal Council and 94 from 21 wards of the Tohana Municipal Council.

As many as 83 candidates are trying their luck in 17 wards of the Ratia Municipal Committee under Fatehabad district.

With the withdrawal of nominations by 1,282 candidates, a total of 4,134 candidates are in fray for the general municipal elections of the state.

A spokesperson of the State Election Commission stated that after the withdrawal of nominations by 65 candidates, as many as 493 candidates had remained in fray for elections to the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad.

The highest number of 236 candidates were contesting from municipal council, Sonepat, and the lowest number of 94 candidates, from municipal council, Tohana.

After the withdrawal of nominations, as many as 157 are contesting from municipal council, Hansi, 208 from Jind, 83 from Narwana, 153 from Thanesar, 121 from Narnaul, 156 from Palwal and 179 from Sirsa, he added.

He said the highest number of 169 candidates were contesting from municipal committee, Gohana, and the lowest number of 43 candidates, from municipal committee, Naraingarh.

As many as 99 candidates were contesting from municipal committee, Charkhi Dadri, 83 from Ratia, 101 from Sohna, 106 from Barwala, 102 from Jhajjar, 53 from Saffidon, 73 from Cheeka, 91 from Gharaunda, 56 from Taraori, 54 from Assandh, 93 from Nissing, 68 from Shahabad, 62 from Ladwa, 56 from Pehowa, 129 from Mahendragarh, 48 from Ferozepur Jhirka, 64 from Nuh, 81 from Hodal, 63 from Punhana, 76 from Samalkha, 46 from Bawal, 78 from Meham, 52 from Kalanwali, 65 from Ellenabad, 59 from Rania and 86 from Ganaur.

Chandigarh, May 17
The Haryana State Election Commission has appointed 18 observers for the fourth municipal elections scheduled to be held on May 20.

Haryana State Election Commissioner Dharam Vir said Saroj Siwatch, Director-cum-Special Secretary, Employment, had been posted as an observer for Naraingarh; , R.S. Vundru, Special Secretary, PW (B&R) and Architecture,for Charkhi Dadri; P.R. Vishnoi, Special Secretary, Health, for Fatehabad, Tohana and Ratia.

Anand Mohan Sharan, Additional Resident Commissioner, Haryana Bhawan, New Delhi, and Director-cum-Special Secretary, Social Justice & Empowerment, had been posted as an observer for Sohana; Suprabha Dahiya, Administrator, HUDA, Rohtak, for Hansi and Barwala; while Raj Kumar, MD., Haryana SCs Finance Development Corporation. Ltd. and MD, Haryana Backward classes and Economically Weaker Sections Kalyan Nigam, would be observer for Taraori, Assandh, Gharaunda and Nissing.

Similarly, H. S. Malik, Director, Medical Education & Research, has been appointed observer for Samalkha; Phateh Singh, Director-cum-Special Secretary, Archives and Archacology & Museums, for Cheeka; MP Bansal for Mahendragarh and Narnaul; RP Bhardwaj, Special Secretary, Forests, for Nuh, Ferozepur Zhirka and Punhana; , Krishan Kumar, MD., Haryana Warehousing Corporation, for Hodal and Palwal; Pardeep Kasni, Joint Secretary, Animal Husbandry, for Bawal; and Pushp Raj Singh MD, HLRDC and Special Secretary, Cooperation, , for Gohana, Ganaur and Sonepat.

DD Gautam, Special Secretary, Irrigation & MD, HSMITC, would be the election observer for Jhajjar and Meham; Ramesh Krishan, Director, Social Justice & Empowerment, for Kalanwali, Ellenabad, Rania and Sirsa; Surjeet Singh, Administrator, HUDA; for Pehowa, Shahabad, Ladwa and Thanesar; Rajeev Ranjan Joint Secretary, Finance Department, for Faridabad; while WS Goyat would be the election observer for Saffidon, Jind and Narwana.

Sirsa, May 17
Strange political combinations and permutations are emerging in the municipal elections in Sirsa town where leaders of the Congress and the HJC have come on one platform to defeat candidates fielded by a group led by Minister Gopal Kanda.

Kanda was elected as an independent MLA from the Sirsa Assembly seat in the last elections and he had defeated among others, Congress candidate LD Arora, who till then had strong hold over local voters.

When the elections to municipalities were announced, Gopal Kanda and his brother Gobind Kanda, who is a Congress leader, decided to field candidates in all 31 wards of the town.

Later, Hoshiari Lal Sharma, district president, and Bhupesh Mehta, block president of the party, teamed up with them and the trio announced a list of 31 candidates of the party.

Though the Congress is not contesting the municipal polls on the party symbol, the 31 candidates fielded by the trio are using the pictures of Sonia Gandhi and Bhupinder Singh Hooda in their banners and posters and all have got identical election symbol of “car”.

On the other hand, party activists owing allegiance to former minister LD Arora, who failed to get their names included in the list released by Kanda, have constituted a forum under the banner of Sirsa Vikas Forum.

Ajit Rattan Singh, vice-president of the Block Congress recently released a list of 24 candidates, 21 of these have been able to get a common election symbol “aeroplane”.

The Sirsa Vikas Forum has the backing of Rahul Setia, son-in-law of Arora, who himself is not much active because of his old age.

Interestingly, the forum also has the backing of Veer Bhan Mehta, district president of the HJC whose three candidates are also contesting under the forum’s banner.

Most of the candidates contesting under the banner of the forum are also using the pictures of Sonia Gandhi and Hooda and are claiming to be the real Congressmen.

“There is no question of parties. These elections are being contested without party symbols and I have been supporting some candidates of the Sirsa Vikas Forum, besides some independents in the town,” said Veer Bhan Mehta.

Meanwhile, the INLD supported candidates, too, have got a common election symbol i.e. umbrella.

The INLD had fielded 31 candidates in these polls, but the nominations of two candidates were rejected due to some discrepancies.

With the INLD candidates on the one hand and two rival Congress groups on the other, the municipal elections here are witnessing interesting contests.

Sirsa, May 17
The recent incidents of alleged sexual harassment involving a student of the Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) Department and the alleged harassment of a woman assistant professor by her chairman have brought to the fore the lack of sensitisation of the authorities on issues relating to women laws.

The Haryana State Women Commission had to intervene in the matter more than once to seek Haryana Education Minister Geeta Bhukkal's intervention to direct the university authorities to take the matter seriously.

The complaint of the JMC Department student was first handed over to a committee of teachers and then sent to the "woman complaint committee" of the university on the intervention of the commission.

The complainant alleged in her complaint that a teacher of her department made remarks suggesting her to meet the carnal desires of her guide if she wanted to get her dissertation completed in time while her guide kept smirking. Both teachers, however, have denied her allegations.

Even the complaint of a woman assistant professor of the university has been handed over to a three-member committee comprising all men, and not to the "women complaint committee" of the university.

"The chairman, who first cajoled her to do her Ph D. under him, has been pestering her on one pretext or the other and has even made my working in the department impossible," the woman assistant professor had alleged giving special reference of the alleged indecent behaviour of her teacher on the day of the complaint.

Combat Laws, a human rights magazine, in its volume 2 issue 2, has given details of laws and procedures to be followed in such cases in articles-- Violence Against Women: Emerging Laws (sexual harassment at work).

The author, Neeta Raymond, presents a practical guide for employees and employers after taking references from over 12 books and articles, besides the Supreme Court judgment in the Vishakha case.

Sexual harassment at workplace is generally classified into two distinct types. 'Quid pro quo', means seeking sexual favours or advances in exchange for work benefits and it occurs when consent to sexually explicit behaviour or speech is made a condition for employment or refusal to comply with a 'request' is met with retaliatory action such as dismissal, demotion, difficult work conditions.

'Hostile working environment' is another and more pervasive form of sexual harassment involving work conditions or behaviour that make the work environment 'hostile' for the woman victim.

The Supreme Court guidelines impose an obligation on the employer to set up a complaints committee to deal with the cases of harassment.

Such a committee should "be headed by a woman, have half its members as women and include a third-party representative from an NGO or any other agency conversant with the issue of sexual harassment to prevent undue pressure from within the organisation with respect to any complaint

The complaints committee's first job is to believe in this reality. (Unless something on record completely negates her complaint).

It is critical that the complaints committee empathises with the complainant and does not judge her by their moral standards.

The complaints committee must remember that--it needs extensive orientation for effective functioning, it cannot function like a criminal court, the complainant, when she complains, has at stake her personal life and career, the impact sexual harassment has on a woman, it is difficult for a woman to talk about anything sexual.

Hence, there can be a long interval between the harassment and the actual complaint, it needs to handle complaints in a confidential manner and within a time-bound framework and it needs to submit an annual report on sexual harassment to the appropriate government authority.

The guidelines also suggests several don'ts for the members of the committee like-- do not, under any circumstance, get aggressive. Do not insist on a detailed description of harassment. This could increase the complainant's trauma.

Do not try and determine the impact of the harassment on the complainant. Let the complainant determine it. Help the complainant, if necessary. Do not discuss the complaint among the presence of the complainant or the accused.

Remember, this is a human rights issue, therefore (a) do not give too much weightage to intention, focus on the impact, and (b) 'proof beyond reasonable doubt' is not required, a strong probability is sufficient in such cases, say the guidelines.

Rewari, May 17
BSNL is all set to expand its network in rural areas of the state, said TS Chauhan, senior general manager, Rewari district.

Under its rural area customer service expansion programme , broadband connections, along with computers, would be made available to aspiring customers in various villages of the district. The computers, he added, would be provided to them on 36 monthly instalments of Rs. 175 each.

He said all such subscribers, whose broadband connections had been lying disconnected for the past over six months, could now get them reactivated without paying installation charges.

As regards the problems being faced by subscribers in timely payment of their bills owing to their erratic distribution by the Postal Department, Chauhan said that from July onwards, BSNL, along with postal dispatch of the bills, would also make the bill details available on their mobile phones through SMS to ensure timely payment of bills.

Similarly, the subscribers would now be able to pay their bills at any bill-related counter of BSNL in Haryana using call data record.

Rewari, May 17
Hailing the UPA government's move to set up the Indian National Defence University (INDU) at Binola village in Gurgaon district, HPCC spokesman Ved Prakash Vidrohi said south Haryana, which remained neglected in the matter of development during the previous regime, had started getting its rightful share in development with the installation of the Hooda-led Congress government in 2005.

Specifically mentioning three prestigious gifts — an ESI Medical College in Faridabad, state's second sainik school in Rewari and Haryana's lone Central University in Mahendragarh--- conferred by the union government on south Haryana in the past five years, Vidrohi said the defence university had surpassed them all.

Asserting that the defence university would fetch global recognition to Binola and south Haryana, Vidrohi hoped that it would bring about a radical transformation in the social, economic and educational fields as well.

Rewari, May 17
Recipients of gallantry awards, their surviving kinsmen and distinguished citizens participated in a state-level Platinum Heroic Jubilee Festival held to mark the 75th anniversary of Haryana’s lone Param Vir Chakra awardee late Col. Hoshiar Singh, a resident of Sisana village in Sonepat district.

The festival was organised under the auspices of the Rezang La Shauriya Samiti (RLSS) here recently.

While Col. Sushil Kumar Dahiya, (serving) son of late Col. Hoshiar Singh was the chief guest, former minister and RLSS chief patron Col. Ram Singh presided over the function.

Besides, Major Gen Ugrasen Yadav (retd), Major Gen Sat Vir Singh (retd), chairman of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement Col Inderjit Singh (retd), president of the All-India Ex-Services Welfare Association and registrar of Sainik School here Col MK Hooda were also present.

Col Sushil Kumar Dahiya, Mahavir Chakra awardee Chaman Singh Yadav, two Vir Chakra awardees - Capt Ram Chander and Capt Nand Lal and surviving kinsmen of 10 other Vir Chakra awardees were also honoured.

Besides, citations and prizes were given to to Amit Dhewa, Navin Yadav, Nishant Yadav, students of local Sainik School, and NCC cadet Kumudni Bhutani of the local Jain Public School.

RLSS general secretary Naresh Chauhan said the RLSS demanded that the District War Memorial at Sonepat, the native district of late Col Hoshiar Singh, be named after him, a bronze statue of Col Hoshiar Singh be installed above the memorial and institute in Haryana or on Sonepat-Sisana-Delhi highway be named after Col Hoshiar Singh. Simultaneously, the RLSS passed two other resolutions seeking the police protection for the gallantry award winners winners.

Yamunanagar, May 17
The Central government is considering the demand of minorities for granting them four additional marks for appointment in government jobs at the time of selection, said HS Hanspal, member, National Commission for Minorities, while assuring the minority communities of protection of their rights.

Addressing a gathering at Guru Nanak Khalsa College here, he said soon a booklet containing various welfare schemes for uplifting the minorities would be available in all states. This was to ensure that the minorities availed the benefits being extended to them by the National Commission for Minorities and also under the 15-Point Programme of PM Manmohan Singh.

He laid emphasis on the need to give special attention to education of girls belonging to the minority communities.

Chairman of Guru Nanak Khalsa Educational Institutions Bhupinder Singh Jauhar said the institutions comprising GN Khalsa College, GN Khalsa Institute of Technology and Management Studies, Guru Gobind Singh Institute of Technology and Management Studies and Guru Gobind Singh College of Pharmacy, were helping poor students by providing them free education.

“We are charging deserving students low fee. Needy students are exempted from paying fee altogether and are Others who spoke on the occasion were the VC of Kurukshetra University, DDS Sandhu, and principal of Guru Nanak Khalsa College Virender Kaur.

Yamunanagar, May 17
“There was spirit of reform in short stories of Rabindranath Tagore. He wanted to eradicate social evils like sati and child marriage that existed in the Indian society. Through his stories he wanted to create awareness among people about the exploitation of women in family and society. He wanted society to change its attitude towards women”.

This was stated by Dr Sudha Chugh from the Department of English, DAV College for Girls, on the concluding day of a seminar on “The Bengal Renaissance and the Indian English Writing” held on the college campus here recently.

Dr Seema Malik from Department of English of Mohan Lal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, explained how due to colonial intervention socio-cultural matrix of India in the 19th century changed. “Issues regarding women become important in this century. Women education was promoted widely. Therefore, under the influence of colonial modernity and reformists efforts a new kind of women emerges in society. Women became conscious of their identity. They became expressive as the spark of awareness ignited in them”.

Dr Anupama Vohra, associate professor of English, Directorate of Distance Education, University of Jammu, focused on injustice done to women, what were the shortcoming and hindrances surrounding women and how through education they could find space for themselves.

Dr Garima Gupta, lecturer, School of Languages, SMVD University, discussed about the Bengal Renaissance and poetry in English by women. In her paper, she analysed the voices of two poets Toru Dutt and Sarojini Naidu and their concern for the condition and status of women around them.

Dr Anand Prakash, a retired English professor, Hans Raj College, University of Delhi, chaired the session.